A checklist of the mammals of Rwanda

Abstract

Despite its small geographical size and its tumultuous recent political history, Rwanda is home to a diverse mammal fauna. Having reviewed 53 published books and papers, including the six volumes of Mammals of Africa, I have developed a simple checklist of all mammals recorded within Parc National des Volcans, Akagera National Park, Nyungwe National Park, and along the eastern shore of Lake Kivu. With a few exceptions, almost all of Rwanda’s mammal species are represented in these four areas. A total of 205 species were identified within these four areas, though the presence of some species may be in doubt, some may become locally extirpated, and a few additional species may be found with more ground surveys.